What to Do in a Plumbing Emergency

August 20, 2018

Plumbing emergencies are stressful and may cause huge amounts of damage. The best way to deal with an emergency is not to panic and to take care of the home or business. The key is to prevent water from causing more damage to the walls, floors, or appliances. Follow these simple steps to protect the building.

● Turn Off the Water. The first thing that should be done is shutting off the water source. Turn off faucets, showers, and appliances. For toilets, there is a valve at the base that turns off the water supply. In the case of flooding or large emergencies, turn off the main valve to the house. This step is crucially important or water will continue streaming to the affected area.

● Check the Water Heater. Turn off your water heater to protect it from damage. If the water heater still runs after the main water valve is closed, there is a chance of the water heater building up heat. It can overheat or burst, only adding more issues to the problem. Turn the gas off first before turning off the rest of the water heater.

● Stop Small Leaks. Stop any small leaks in the affected area. Use plumber’s tape and rags to stop the water and place buckets nearby to catch leaking water.

● Open Drains and Spigots. Any water that may still be in the pipes needs to be drained. Open the drains and spigots around the building, especially the ones outside, to drain the pipes and remove the water. Open the garden hose to make sure there is no more water and use a plunger on any clogged drains.

● Call. Call a plumber right away. Listen to their advice and follow their directions to prevent further damage. Remember that while this is a stressful situation, your plumber is there to help fix the problem.